1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

The move by the Trump administration to target "improper ideology" at Smithsonian museums through an executive order is a concerning development that reeks of authoritarianism. History has shown time and again that allowing those in power to dictate what constitutes "proper" ideology is a slippery slope towards censorship, revisionism, and the suppression of free thought and expression. Museums and cultural institutions play a vital role in preserving humanity's collective knowledge, achievements, and struggles – warts and all. Imposing an ideological litmus test undermines their educational mission and academic integrity. This executive order is a brazen attempt to rewrite history through the lens of a narrow political agenda, which should be vehemently opposed as anathema to the principles of a free society. A democratic nation's strength lies in its ability to confront difficult truths about its past and present, not bury them under sanctioned narratives. This authoritarian overreach must be resisted to uphold the Smithsonian's independence and the public's right to learn from an unvarnished portrayal of human experience.